Gabriel Medina 2016 wsl world champion

An outsiders take on the year that will be

Snapper Rocks : Joel parkinson...After a lacklustre 2015 Parko springs from the blocks fired up,taking down a rejuvenated Kelly Slater in the final,and extracting revenge for the kirra shut down..And on the way reminding everyone again that its not only mick surfing the super bank

Bells Beach : Julian wilson....J dub storms through yhe final rounds at perfect 4-6 bells bowl,relegating red bull teamate amd defending champ Mick Fanning to runner up..Denying his quest for three in a row

Margaret River : Italo Ferriera....In solid but less than ideal conditions at surfers point,the brazillian nugget slogs his way to his maiden wsl victory,again crushing Josh Kerrs dream of winning his first event and holding the trophy aloft.

Rio Pro : Gabriel Medina.....After a consistent start to the year,the young brazzilian takes the yellow leaders jersey in his homeland,taking to the sky to outspin fellow helicopter pilot Filepe Toledo in what can only be described as average dribble.

Fiji Pro : Gabriel Medina...widening his lead on the 2016 wsl tour the brazllian young gun tajes oout back to back victories in classic 6ft cloudbreak,getting deeper and showing more flair than eventual runner up John Florence who for most of the event looked on a different level to the rest of the pack.Ultimately dropping the ball when it mattered most

Jeffereys Bay : Matt Wilkinson...Yes thats right Matt Wilkinson..After seemingly years of under performing yet with flashes of brilliance on his backhand..The loveable larrikan from copacabana does the unthinkable and takes down local hero Jordy Smith with a blistering display of backhand torque in flawless 4-6ft surf..

Teahupo'o : John Florence...Quietely stewing over his finals loss in fiji John John leaves none wondering why hes considered the new king of heavy barrells..After pleasant 6 ft waves through the early rounds,the final days competition sees the tahitian postcard morph into 10-12 ft of south pacific fury..The kid from Hawaii delivers,leaving Kelly Slater to his second runner up placing for the year,and taking out the A.I award in the process

Trestles : Kelly Slater...One for the history books.A return to yeara gone by as the greatest of all time hacks and spins his way to his first CT win in well over two years,and after consistent reaults thus far he narrows the gap on the yellow leaders jersey to nxt to nothing..Disposing of fellow veteran Taj Burrow in weak but rippable 3 foot lowers,kelly signals his desire for one more title

Hossegor : Mick Fanning...After an up and down year for the 3 time world champ,white lightning shows the surfing world why hes won this event one more than one occasion..blistering and solid,Mick combos surprise packet of the event rookie Jack Freestone in the opening five minutes and its game over for the young aussie.

Supertubes : Filepe Toledo..In a result that could arguably cost the young brazillian a world title in the corresponding rvent last year,Filepe weaves his way through dredging 5-6ft supertubos grinders to return himself to the winners list..But its his utter dominance in the air on the end sections that sees him squeek past Joel Parkinson in his second final for 2016 in a high scoring affair

Pipeline : Bede Durbidge...Fairytales do happen.Returning to the site that nearly ended his career a year ago,Bede shows courage and fight never before seen at this level.In what many are calling the best pipe in over a decade,the white fikian from straddie bullocks his way into the final where he will meet Kelly Slater who needs a victory to claim the title..Either way its going to be a fairytale finish to the year..But in a gripping final,trailing the king who is 15 seconds away from his crowning glory,Bede freefalls into a 12ft beast with seconds left on the clock.In a seemingly unmakeable position the beach erupts as he is blown the wave in a shower of glory.A perfect 10 ending slaters dream and etching Bedes name into surfing folklore with a triumphant victory in his last event before retiring from the tour..Leaving Gabriel Medina to win hia second title in the process..